I’ve been trying for SEVEN years..
I’ve literally been trying to use a cup for 7 years. I have gotten a good almost completely leak proof seal a hand full of times. And granted it hasn’t been quite 7 years because I’ve had two children since then so I obviously wasn’t using it while pregnant. But during times I was actively having a period over the last 7 years I’ve been trying. I’ve tried several different folds, I’ve tried two different cups, and I’ve looked up countless videos and blog posts about them. And I can not consistently get a good seal. Even the times I get a someone decent seal and it actually collects blood I leak plenty. But more often then not it catches little to no blood and it’s a leaky nasty mess! I hate sitting in pads full of blood and tampons since using a cup are like a swear word and I don’t swear! But seriously… who has to try this long? Something has got to be wrong! How do I fix this and have this blissful experience I was supposed to be having????
So I wanted to update about this cycle. This is day three and yesterday am when I woke up and got a shower and went to remove my cup it was full. This tells me I can make it work and this has happened to me a hand full of times but the majority of times when I leak the cup has very little or nothing in it. But even these times that it works and I’m filling the cup I find I leak the entire time. I had been leaking from the moment I inserted it all through the night despite also filling the cup so the frustrating part is that even when it’s “working” it’s not “working”🤦🏻♀️😂🤷♀️ So any way I will make this work or I’ll die trying. I did look at the Lumma disc you recommended and it looks like a lot of reviews say it’s not for those with heavy flow which I believe may be an issue for me? Or may just be an issue for some? Also the small salt soft I bought was to try at times my cervix is low but I do think a small may just be too small for me 🤷♀️ Another thing I’m wondering is that when I feel up there sometimes I think oh hey that’s my cervix 🤔 other times I’m like oh hey maybe that’s it 🤔 like I was so sure I had it figured out and knew exactly what my cervix was but then looking at pictures of female anatomy for the millionth time trying to find any reason why I must be the only person alive capable of not finding success after so many years (likely due to ignorance 🤦🏻♀️😂🤷♀️) I’m like wait maybe this thing I’m feeling is part of it and I can’t feel the other part 🤔. Recently due to a miscarriage I became much more aware of female anatomy then I really had been before and my doctor did tell me I have a tilted uterus. Which I think may also be part of my problem with cups but I’ve been researching tips to use a cup with a tiled uterus and of course tons of stuff pops up…. but what pops up seems to be primarily confirmation and encouraging that a cup can work rather then actual tips to try differently in this case. And I know I have a good seal because when I pull I can feel that I do so I’m like “howwwwwwww can this possible be happening?” Anyway I’d consider a disc but I’d prefer a cup. I’ve considered some of those funky odd shaped cups at times but I’m also weird and have a hard time getting past what my idea of a cup is in my head (like anything other then a traditional looking up) but if it works I’d be willing to try it! Anyway hopefully I’ve said something else that’s triggered more if your infinite wisdom! Thank you so much for your help and dedication to helping people find success! I really appreciate it!! ❤️
PS…Happy Mother’s Day! <3
Hello There!
YAY! At least you know that it works, even if it’s not 100% of the time. If the cup has very little collected, it usually means that either the cup is on the side of the cervix or that the cervix is sitting deep into the cup and compromising the capacity.
If you’re leaking a little each time, it could be excess blood finding its way out. I’m not sure if I mention this before (I didn’t go back and reread). After you insert the cup, use a wet wipe or cloth to clean the base and stem as best as you can. Although this usually helps eliminate residual blood spots, there’s always going to be some that is left in the vaginal canal that is not scooped up by the cup on its way in.
If you are leaking a lot like you don’t have a cup in, then there’s something else going on.
Discs are okay for heavy bleeders, but in my experience, it needs to be emptied way more often. Some people can dump the contents without removing the cup. They say to bear down while you’re on the toilet for it to empty and then do a few Kegels to get it back into place. It’s not supposed to dislodge completely where it will fall out, but everyone will have a different experience. A company that just launched their brand new disc (I was emailed about it last month), used this in their marketing. Just know that this ‘bearing down’ motion is the same as when you cough, sneeze, laugh, carry something heavy, stand from a sitting or squatting position, etc. If the disc is full enough, it can spill over.
Don’t beat yourself up! There are a lot of people who know nothing of their anatomy. It’s not really something we learn in school. You don’t need this insight to use a pad or tampon, and we’re basically told, “penis goes here”, “babies come out of here”. Just like many other things, we don’t know something about our bodies until a doctor points it out.
Tilted Uterus – Knowing this can help. Some cup users diagnosed with a tilted uterus say that wider and shorter cups are easier and more comfortable. Wider diameters make it easier to place the cup since it has a larger opening. Shorter cups because it’s just more comfortable. However, some users find that a short cup will ride up and be harder to reach.
Again, a disc may be easier and more comfortable for users with a tilted uterus/cervix.
Funky odd shaped cup 😛 The Kind Cup is ergonomically shaped. Depending on how your uterus is tilted, the Kind Cup may be a great option. You can use it as intended or spin it around to target your cervix. Since you’re not too sure where that is exactly, I would say to try it as intended first. Anyhow, it looks like the Saalt Cup if it bent its stem over. Kind of like an elf hat, and has a very long stem. The upper rim is about the same thickness and the firmness feels about the same as the regular version Saalt (not the soft). This one is a little more costly than the average cup, but I don’t think you’ll have any problems “destashing” it on FB if it doesn’t work for you.
Check it out and let me know what you think.
Good Luck <3
Red Herring
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